Grading and excavating machine



Oct. 30,1923. 1,472,562

5. s. KNlGHT GRADING AND EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed July 26 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 30,1923. 1,472,562

E. S. KNIGHT GRADING AND EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed July 26 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 30,1923. 1,472,562

' E. S. KNIGHT- GRADING AND EXCAVATING MACH NF? Filed' July 26 1.922 4 sheets-sheet 5 I 70 fjfl //Z Oct. 30 1923.

E s. KNIGHT GRADING AND'EXCAVATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- Filed July 26 trenching machines.

in common use and familiar to those skilled in the art, and are particularly well known and in common use upon ditch digging machines, or what is commonly known as It. is therefore deemed unnecessary to describe said gear mechanism and shaft mechanism herein, or to illustrate the same in detail. or otherwise than as shown in the drawings.

The traction shaft 31' is operatively connected with the engine 25 or other source of power by connected shafts and a train of gears d0 of the usual ordinary and well known form which is in common use on ordinary excavating machines, and therefore need not be described or shown in detail herein. A main driving, shaft 41. of an ordinary and well known form of trench digging or excavatin; machines is mounted on the main frame 1 and operatively connected with the engine shaft 39 of the engine 25 in the usual manner. And shafts 41, 43, 39, 3?, 48, 51, 54, conveyor 58 and tilting screw 142 are operatively connected in the usual ordinary and well known manner by gear and clutch mechanism,-not shown-- but which is common and well known in the art. A belt wheel, 42 is fixed to the main driving shaft 41 and operatively connected with a reversing shaft 43 by means of a belt pulley i-i fixed to said reversing shaft, and a belt -15. ative-ly connected with the engine shaft 39 in the usual and ordinary manner, by means of suitable reversing gear and clutch mechanism,n0t shown. The main drive shaft -11 is operatively connected with the traction shaft 37 by means of a spur gear wheel 46 fixed to said main drive shaft and a spur gear wheel 47 fixed to the traction shaft 37. The traction shaft 37 is operatively connected with the intermediate shaft 48 by means of a spur gear wheel 49 fixed to the shaft 37 and in toothed engagement with a spur gear wheel 50 which is fixed to the intermediate shaft 48.

The main drive shaft 41 is operatively connected with a shaft 51 commonly known as the first feed shaft by means of a spur gear wheel 52 fixed to said first feed shaft 1 and in toothed engagement with a spur gear wheel 53 which is fixed to the main drive shaft. And said first feed shaft 51 is 0 erativcly connected with a second feed sha t- 54 by means of a belt pulley wheel 55 fixed to said second feed shaft 54 and a belt pulley wheel 56 fixed to the shaft 51, and a belt 57 mounted on and opcra-tivcly connecting said pulleys 55and 56.

The first feed shaft 51 is also operatively connected with a transverse endlem con reyor 58, which may be of any ordinary well known or desired form, by means of suitable connecting gearmechauism not Shown.

The reversing shaft 43 1S oper-v -verse bar or axle member 20.

pivoted frame or boom 70,

In order to provide means for conveniiently tilting the main frame 1, so as to enable the frame and mechanisms supported thereby to be maintained in upright position, or in any. desired inclined position, and enable a uniform grade to be made notwithstanding the irregularities of the ground over which the machine required to travel during the operation of grading. I mount a pair of tilting screws 6O, 60. in upright position in the frame 1, by preference, in posn tion to extend through and in threaded en gagcmcnl with a suitable screw-threaded support such as the transverse frame member 16. Each of the tilting screws tit) thus mounted on opposite sides of the main frame 1 has its bottom end in position to engage and abut against a suitable support upon or forming part of the intermediate frame or.

axle 19. For example. the bottom end of each screw 60 may be in abutting engagement with the upper surfaceof a trans The screws ()0 are provided with suitable operating means, which may consist of a band wheel (31 tixed to an upright rotative. shaft (32 mounted in suitable bearings in the main frame 1 in convenient. position to be reached by the operator. And the upright operating s iaft (i2 is tuierativcly connected with the tilting screwsOO by suitable means, which may be in the form of sprocket wheel and chain mechanism or equivalent connecting and operating means. For example each tilting screw (it). has a sprocket wheel 33 fixed thereto: and the upright operating. shaft. (32 has one or more sprocket wheels 64 fixed to said shaft. And a surocket chain 6:) is mounted upon and connects one of thesprocket. wheels Get with the sprocket wheel 63 of one of the tilting screws 60; ivhile a sprocket chain 66 connects the sprocket wheel (33 of the other tilting screw with a corresponding sprocket wheel 6 on said operating shaft 62.

By providing one of said tilting screws 60 with right hand screw threads, and the other with lefthand screw threads, both screws may be operated simultaneously in the proper direction to tilt the frame in either direction as desired, or to bring it to upright position as circumstances may require. It is obvious that each of the screws 60 may be operated independently of the other, when desired, by means of a crank orother similar or ordinary operating means.

In constructing digging and gradingmechanism, comprising a pivoted supporting frame or boom, and endless chains, buckets, scarifiers or cutter tools, and scrapers or deflectors, in accordance with my invention and improvements, I provide a main which may be of any usual ordinary and well known or suit able form, such are in use in .Pg machines or excavating machines, nch, by preference, is in the form of :1 comprising longitudinal side 71, which may be in the irons, and are. connected by .rso braces 72 in the usual manor-r, i iitahlez compression members 73 and ion on members 7* fixed to the main irusseo hcarn ii in the usual manner, serve, in connection with the beam 71, to make a portable frame or boom adapted to the sirssses and strains to which it is vteil in use. i

This boom is provided th a hearing 75 fixed to the beam 71, and pivotally mounted upon upright trusses side frame members 76 end 7? which are in tho rear extremity of and forms :2" the in frame 1,

coon; 7 is pivotally connected with i is in the usual ordinarv and n manner of connecting the -moms he main frames of ordinary and well forms of cricavaiing or trenching -nes. And it should hc noted that the i700? T0, with the digging mechanism. including the endless digging chains and hu ckets. scariiiers or cutters. and scrapers or deflectors, end the shaft and gear or sprocket mechanism and transverse frame members forming the digging and grading mechanism proper, are adapted to housed upon and in connection with the ordinary and well known forms of trench-digging and excavating machines And the boom 70 adapted to he pivotally connected with ihe main frame of an ordinary trench-digs ging or excavating machine. such as is in common use and familiar and well known in the art to which this invention relates. In the form of grading machine. or grading and excavating machine herein shown and sx'rihed. the hoom is provided with a transvcrsc upper main bucket-chain supporting and driving" shall if) which is ournalcd in suitable hearings and extends ihrougzh the hearings or hinge nicmhcrs T iixcil to said boom or t lting digging hcam T0. and through the hearings or hin m memhcis it fixed to the upper rear frame munioers T6, 77 of the main frame 1. The shaft "4'9 thus @rvcs to pivotall v connect the boom or tilting digging beam with the main frame.

The main bucketchain supporting and driving shaft; 79 is operatively connectedwith the engine or source of power, which me be of any ordinary and well known or desired form, by means of a sprocket, wheel I 80 fixed to the shaft 79, a sprocket Wheel 81 fixed to the main driving'shaft ll already described, and a sprocket chain 82 mounted upon and connecting said sprocket 'WllCBlS and shaft-s.

A rear bottom bucket-chain stqipin'ting shaft 83 is rot-stively mount-ed in suitable i ,avasaz hearings on the lower rear extremity ofttio tilting digging beam or boom 70, and extends transversely of and, by preference, through the lower extremity of the boom, and in parallel relation to the upper ma n bucket-chain supporting and driving shaft 79:

Fixed to the upper bucket-chem supporting and driving shafi 79 is a pair of toothed sprocket wheels 8%, 84. Fixed to the lower transverse bucket-chain supporting and grading shaft, 83 is a pair of toothed sprocket wheels 85. And mounted upon and connecting the sprocket Wheels 8' and 55, and supported by said sprocket, wheels and their supporting shsfts, is a pair 02. main endless digging-bucket. supporting and convcyor chums 86. 86, which are mounted in parallel relation and extend longitudinally of the boom 70, the upper downwardly and rearwardly moving laps of said chains being above the boom, and the lower upwardly moving lap of said pair of chains being below the boom. These chains are thus supported by the transverse shafts *s' and 83. And itis obvious that the sprocket, wheels 85 on shaft- 83 may be either fixed to said shaft and rotate therewith and in toothed engagement with the chains 86, m as to drive or tend to drive said chains, or be driven by the same, or may be losely mounted on said shaft 83 and act as idlers. Mounted upon the endless chains 86 is an endles series of digging and conveyor buckets 87, each having its opposite ends attached to the sprocket chains 86, 86 in the usual ordinary and well known manner and each having on its outer upwardly and forwardly moving: and forwardly facing margin a series of sharp edged cutters or svarifiers. or scarifier teeth 88, which are of the usual ordinary: and well known form. But the toothed edge of each of? the digging"- huckcts 8i" h v' prcicrcnce straight; and tho end Walls of the buckets arc also. 3 preference, substantially flat. lint the buckets are open at the back and hot-tom in nor side or toward the shafts around which they revolve. so as to readily dump material into a transverse conveyor 58 which is of the usual ordinary and well known form, operated in the usual and ordinary manner and driven by any ordinary and Well known driving means. The endless conveyor 58 is mounted on the main frame in position to extend beneath the upper extremity of the endless lmckct-chains 86 and endless series of buckets so as to receive and convey away material dumped from i buckets at the upper extremity of their th of move ment. V

The tilting boom or di beam 76 is provided at or near its-low "Xtrcmit with a pair of trunsrsrse laterally projecting frame arms 9%, mounted on and projecting members 92 of a corresponding one of said frame arms 90, and extending through the openings in the adjacent him-"e members or lugs 91 on the boom 70, and forming a pivotal connection between each of said transverse frame arms, respectively, and the boom.

in the form of the device shown in the dramnigs, each of the transverse laterally projecting fram arms 90 comprises in its construction late-rally projecting frame arm members 92, 92, which may form the hinge members through which the pivot rod 93 extends, as already described. These frame members 92 are connected at their inner ends by means of an inner frame member which may be in the form of a channel iron having its opposite ends fixed to the corresponding nner ends of said frame members .o'r hinge members 92, which may also be formed of channel iron. The outer extremities of the frame members 92, 92, are rigidly connected means of an outer frame member .15 fixed thereto by gusset plates 96, or other suitable securing means. This frame member 95 may also be formed of channel iron,

Each of the transverse frame arms 90 is, by preference, of open work constructionstrongly braced by means of braces which may be of any desired suitable form. F or example, the heavy brace beam or plate 97 of channel iron construction, and provided with perforations 98 arranged in a plurality of series of perforations and in staggered relation to cool" other, is fixed at its opposite ends to the lateral frame members 92; and a heavy metallic top plate 99 extends transversely across the top of the main-beam 71 of the boom or digging beam 70, and has its opposite ends adjustably connected with the outer extremities of each of the pivoted lateral frame arms 90 in such a manner a sto enable said frame arms 90 to be adjusted with respect to each other and with respect to the boom as to control and determine the grade, not only as to depths, but also the pitch and conformation or shape of the grade, and particularly, to enable the grade to be made lower on one side of the boom than on the other, or lower on both sides of the boom than it is directly beneath the boom, as desired. The top transverse plate or frame member 99 is therefore, by preference, adjustably secured at its outer extremities to the adjacent outer extremities of the pivoted transverse arms 90, respectively. Forthis purpose headed bolts 100 are mounted in perforations 101 in the outer extremities of the top plate 99 islfdol extend through correspondingperforations 98 in the perforated channel iron frame member 9'? directly beneath the perforations 101. Filler plates or wedges 102 are interpose between the perforated channel 11'011 frame members 97 and the corresponding erfm rated ends of the top plate 99. An .it is obvious that by removing a filler plate from eithernd of the to plate 99 and connecting the top plate irectly with the corre sponding pivoted arm 90, the outer extremity of the attcrcan be conveniently raised to a desired suitable elevation with respect to the pivoted arm 90 on the other side of the boom. By inserting both filler plates or wedges 102, the outer extremities of both pivoted arms 90 may be readil lowered, so that each of said arms extenos downward and outward at an incline from the'bo'om,

or downward and outward below thenormal lev pltplfi'said arms. And by removing a filler plate 102 from one end of the top plate 99 and inserting it, along with the other filler plate 102 beneath the opposite end of the top-plate 99, th corresponding adjacent arm 90 will be lowered, and by securing the end of the top plate 99 from which the filler plate has been removed, directly in contact with the adjacent pivoted arm 90, the latter will be raised above its normal level and higher than the arm over which the plurality of filler plates 102 are located.

A heavy channel iron member 103 having depending side flanges 10s is fixed to the bottom side of the main beam 71, or boom 70;- and headed rods or tension members 195 are mounted with their innervheaded ends extending through suitable perforations in the flanges 104, there being a pair of said rods105 for each pivoted arm 90,, The outer channel iron member of each pivoted frame arm. 90 is provided with suit able perforations 106 through which extend the outer ends of the corresponding pair of upwardly and outwardly inclined rods or bolts 105. And nuts 10? mounted on and in threaded engagement with the outer threaded ends of the threaded rods and on the outside of the outer channel iron member 95 of such pivoted frame arm 90 serve to rigidly connect the frame arm with its pair of rods 105. and to permit the latter to be adjusted with respect to such pivoted frame arm 90, in whateverposition the latter may be required to be supported. A strong trussed transverse frame, comprising the transverse pivoted arms 90, top plate 99, and

its

- of the seem said jQiVOLQd arms is obvious I wedges extending entlwise toward en te permit the raising nstment of en i the shett i testbed sprocket wheel uzl t it end a toothed L: (i tetne shaft 108; i em. 11?; 3S mnunted upen mounted upon til the shaft Y9; mounted spun ,v syroekets 11 i sweecl changing; mechi fecence, provided or en- "rotation of the shafts see at retest-ion the shaft shaft ll, er other drivsource '2" power by means of us "is 108 and 83 anal 79'. and the grading e2: excei'etin z mech- T el'v connected therewith, are

example tostheci is me (i upon '5 0 spline M8 is mouse e pci'iph -rnl ieugitutiiusl slot null n'im'able longitudinally of v 33 moving the spline 01' key l s 11 ene direction longitudinally 0f the shst'ti i t will hold the sprocket 1.14 in fixed. relation in the shaft; and by moving it in a: direction away from the sprocket 114 and trm'zml the spziocli'et 117 it Will.1ltfi the spreclcet lb; and secure the sprocket 117 in fixed relation to the shaft 110. A sprocket nhcel 172 i fixed to the shaft 79, and is t diameter f1()111 'tl18 spmckct i in. the. s mice, it shown as'of largei' diauietei': and e. sprocket chain 121 is mounted upnn opeiativeiy connects the sprocket wl eels 117 and 120. By this the mtetien 01' the shaft 7 eutei" end at? means, er sny other suitabie erclinnty Well known desired speed changing anisn the speed of rotation et the she: 11ml. shaft X ma he changed with 1:1,

The shaft 1-08 pmjeets laterally SltQ'SiiiQS ezt the basin; and its encl pertiens 0K extensions 122, 1 though they may he formed one i piece with the central er main bed 1 If the shstt, ere, by preference cenneewi with said central main bed; time by means of universal 'jeints 1:23, i WiliCl! may be 03? eny desiretl W l i or suit-able teem, Anti l also, t ence provide the shaft 83 with suit? jeeting end portions 01 entensimis which project laterally an opposite :s e the been), and in parallel relation extsnsiens 122 an the shaft 108. The ally projeeting shafts 1524i howeven in; entirely separate item the shaft 83 n2 supports the lower entremity of the sf endless bucket chains 86. Anti. transverse extensions or separate shafts 12* may, if desired, be nonJets;- mounted, each in n, cnrrespsntling one pivoted 01 adjustable frame arms JO. lit even when the shafts or extensions '22 nnn-irotatively mounted, they may be nected with or term an integral part shaft 83, by being (TOHBQClQ-{l with the it by means of ordinary universal joints i or merely by means of suitable pivot p or hinges 126 of sufficient strength to wi stand the stresses and strains t0 \-'l1l(lt mechanism is subjected in us Each of the laterally projecting trans-- verse shafts is pmvnlcil with a series (if toothed sprecket wheels 12? fixed the In this instance three of such sn sheen upon each laterally pioje member 122. Three idler Wheels mounted upon each (if the ti'zinsveirsc ally projecting shaft members 01 summi reds And each s n-ticket wheel (Ulil\'.l)' conn cted with :1 cm? .llPE nz' spinci f \Yiiecl 12 i S}' IO('l9t chain 199. "these 1' 3.29 are in the term of licnrjv 1 :intlzu'e (lll 311. by pi'eteici'icc. in; 1111;: the shaft k which is eperutii'cl i' cunnevted with the engine 01* son cc of punch in the manner already"described, (1r 3 slnilsr suitable connecting and tlrix'ing means.

Mounted on eachseries of endless side digging chains 12%) is 51 series of cutters i scan'iticisi each of which is. by pii 'ici'c11(-e, in the form of a heavy transverse bau- 130i having its apposite ends fiPXllDlf/ connected with a pair or plurality of the endless it; ging chains 129. Anti a series of slump edged cutters 01' scarifiei' teeth 131 is mount ed upon by each of said bars 130 The IQlll shaft 83 and its extensions 1% i n g eh whether separate or connecteth-may be nonrotativel i' mounted in their supports. And the sprocket wheels or idlers may be made without sprocket teeth. and of any suitable ordinary form;

An outer series 133 of scarifiers 132 is thus located between the outermost chain 129 and the next adjacent iniuer chain 129; and an intermediate series 131 of scaritiers is thus located between and supportcd by the'innermost endless chain 129 and the adjacent: chain 129. Any desired number of endless series 133. 134 of scarificrs may lhus be mounted side by side on opposite sides of the boom 70. and driven at any desired predetermined speed with respect to the speed of movement of the main central endless bucket supporting chains 86. And the speed of movement of the outermost and intermediate scarificrs and their supporting chains 129 may be varied with respect to the speed of movement of the main central digging buckets and their supporting chains, desired. And, I prefer. in most instances, to drive the side digging chains, scarifiers and deflector scrapers at a speed which is fa ter than the specdof movement of the digging and conveyor buckets and supporting chains mounted on the an outer series of oblique scrapers or deflectors 135 is provided. comprising an endless series of transverse deflectorsupporting bars 136, each connected at its opposite ends with a pair of digging chains 129, and havingtixed thereto one or more oblique scrapcars or deflector blades 13?. A similar intermediate series of oblique deflectors, composed at an oblique angle so as to ezttend" forward and outward at, an oblique angle with relation to the forward upward move ment of said blades, there being one or more of said deflector blades back of and imme diately following each scarifier 132 of the corresponding series of scarifiers. The defiector blades of the intermediate series 138 of oblique deflectors or scrapers, likewise extend forward and outward at an oblique angle with respect to the forward upward movement of said deflectors, of which. there is one or more behind and following each scarifier of the intermediate series 134 of scarifiers or cutters. The outer series of deflectors or scrapers thus act to deflect or move the material loosened by the outer series of scarifiers inward toward and into position to be one god and operated upon by the next adja ent. inner or intermediate serics of deflectors, and the intermediate sew rics 138 of deflectors serves to receive the material due up or loosened by thc outer series 133 of scarificrs and moved inward or deflected toward and into the path of movement of the intermediate deflectors, and (lelivers the material in position to be carried forward and upward by the endless series of digging buckets 87, which are adapted to convey and deliver all of'th'e material dug up by the buckets 87 and scarifiers and dcfiectors or scrapers, on to the transverse conveyor 89, already described.

A rear scraper 139 is mounted back of therear extremity of the boom 70, and back of the digging -80 uckcts, scarificrs, and defied" tors or oblique scrapers, above described,

which is located in position to engage the surface of the grade or bed immediately back of the rear extremity of the boom and digging and grading mechanism above described, and from outside to outside ofthe cut or bed, or graded surface over which the grading, or grading and excavating machine has passed. The opposite ends of the scraper 139cm connected with a suit-able support by means of sidearms 141, the rear extremities of which aresecured to the cor rcspondingends of thescraper, and the forward extremities of which are connected with, and, by preference, in flexible or piv,

otal relation to the frame of the machine by For example, i

any suitable securing means. the side arms 1-41 ofthe scraper may be connected with a projectin end portion of a convenient transverse graft, such as the shaft 122, or with any desired convenient outer .side extremity of. acorr espondin frame arm 90. The scraper .139 is sufti cientl'y heavy so that its weight will hold it in the desired operative position.

Iclaim: i

1. In a machine of the class describedthe combination of a m-ain central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable frame upon which said digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, side digging chain mechanism located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, edged scaritiers located on opposite sides of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and supported b said side digging chain mechanism, and deflector scrapers mounted between said scarifiers and adopted to deflect the material loosened hy the scariiiers toward and into the path of movement of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism.

:2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable frame upon which said digging and convcyor mechanism is mounted, side digging chains located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, edged scarifiers located on opposite sides of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and operated by said side digging chains,'detiectoiscrapers mounted between said side scariliers and adapted to deflect material loosened by the scarifiers toward and into the path of movement of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, and means for operating said main central digand conveyor mechanism and said side digging chains.

3.' in a machine of the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable iramc upon which said digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, side digging chains located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, edged scarii'iers located on opposite sides of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and operated by said side digging chains de' ilector scraper mounted between said side scarifiers and adapted to deflect material loosened by the scarifiers toward and into the path of movement of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, means for driving the main central digging and conveyor mechanism. and means for drivingsaid side digging chains and scarilier and deflector mechanism independently of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism.

4-. in a machine of the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable frame upon which said digging and conveyor mechanism is moimted. side digging chains located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, edged scarifiers located on opposite sides ofsaid main central digging and conveyor mechanism and operated by said side digging chains, deflector scrapcis mounted between said side scariticrs and adapted to deflect material loosened by the scarifie-rs toward and into the path of movement of said central digging and conveyor mechanism, means for operating said main digging and conveyor mechanism and said side digging chains, and means for changing the speed of movement of said side digging chains and scarifier and deflector scraper mechanism with respect to menace the speed of movement of the main central di ging and conveyor mechanism,

0. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable frame upon which said digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted. side digging chains located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, edged scarilieis located on opposite sides of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and operated by said side digging'cliains, dehector scrapers mounted between said s'de scarifiers and adapted to deflect material loosened or scariliers toward and into the path of movement of said central main digging and conveyor mechanism, means for driving the lnaincentral digging and conveyor mechanism and said side digging chains and means for supporting the side digging and scraper mechanism in able relation to the main central and conveyor mechanism.

(3. in a machine at the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism comprising a s s digging buckets, and digging chains upowhich saidbuckct are mounted, a main dig ging beam, transverse shafts gournaled in said beam and provided with. sprocket wheel mechanism on said shafts in siippoitin t gagement with said chains, a portable upon. which said di ging beam is moumedi side digging chains coated on opposite sides of the main digging beam, edged scarin rs and deflector scraper mechanism mounted on said side digging; chains and adapted to loosen and move material toward and into the path of movement of the central digging buckets, sprocket wheels in supporting engagement with said side digging chain transverse rotative shaft mechanism in supporting engagement with said last mentoned sprocket Wheels and flexibly connected with the vtransverse shaft mechanism jonrnaicd. in the main digging beam, andmeansfor driving said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and said side chains.

7. In a machine of thc class described, the combination of a portable main frame, a main central digging beam mounted. on said main frame, transverse shafts journaled in said beam in parallel relation to each other, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted upon each of said shafts, endless digging vchains mounted upon said sprocket \vhcels,

a series of digging buckets mounted upon said chains, means for driving one of said shafts to operate said chains and digging buckets, laterally extending transverse s1, c shafts located on opposite sides of said digging beam and having their inner ends diggin extremities supported by said sprocket wheels on said laterally extending flexibly antenna connected shafts on opposite sides ofsaid seam, means for supportmg the rear extremities ofsaid side digging chains, a series of cutters mounted on said side digging'chains,

and means for driving said flexibly connected laterally extending side shafts.

8. In a machine of the classdescribed, the

combination of a portable main frame, a main central digging beam mounted. on said frame, maincentral digging and conveyor mechanism mounted on said digging beam and comprising a pair of transverse shafts jcirnaled in said'digging beam, sprocket wheels on said shafts and a series of digginglouckets and diggin' bucket supporting chains mountedon sai shaft and sprocket. mechanism, means for driving one of said shafts to operate said main central dig and conveyor mechanism, an intermediate driven shaft iournaled on said digging-beam, laterally extending transverse shafts located on opposite sides of said digging beam and having their inner ends flexibly connected with the ends of said last mentioned driven shaft on said beam, sprocket wheels fixed to said laterally extending flexibly connected shafts on opposite sides of said digging beannendless side'digging chains located on opposite sides of said digging beam and supported upon said sprocket wheels on the laterally extending shafts, a series of scarifiers located on each side of said digging beam and sup ported by said side digging chains, and a series of deflector scrapers mounted on the side digging chains on opposite sides of the main di ging beam and adapted to move v material oosened by the scarifiers inward toward and into the path of movement of the digging buckets of the main central digging and conveyor'mechanism.

9. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a portable main frame, a main central digging beam movably mounted on said frame, main central digging and conveyor-mechanism mounted on said dig-.

shafts to operate said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, laterally projoctin transverse shafts located on opposite si es of said digging beam and connected with the ends of said driven shaft on said beam, the outer ends of said laterally projeeting shafts being adjustable upward and downward with respect to the diggin I beam, sprocket wheels fixed to said lateral y pro jecting shalts on opposite sides of the diging beam, endless side digging chains ocated on opposite sides of said digging beam and having their forward extremities supported upon said sprocket Wheels on said laterally projecting shafts, means for supporting the rear extremities of said digging chains, and scaritier and scraper mechanism mounted 'on the side digging chains cnopposite sides of the digging i an and adapted to dig and deliver material to the main central digging conveyor mechanism.

10. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a main digging beam in supporting engagement with said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, shaft and gear mechanism mounted on said beam and in supporting engagement with said chains, a portable frame upon which said digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, endless side digging chains located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, scarifiers located on opposite sides of said main central 'digging and conveyior mechanism and adapted to be operated by said digging chains, deflecting scrapers located between and extendin,

respect to the path of movement of said scarificrs and adapted to deflect material loosened by the scarifiers toward said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and said side digging chains, and transverse framemembers mounted on said mam digging A beam adapted to support said side digging chains and said scarifiers and deflecting scrapers in adjustable relation to the first mentioned main central digging and conveyor mechanism.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism comprising an endless series of digging buckets, endless chains upon which said digging buckets are supported, a. main digging beam in supporting engagement with said main central and conveyor mechanism, shalt and gear mechanism mounted on said beam in supporting engagement with said chains, a portable frame upon which said digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, endless side digging chains located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, scarifiers located on opposite sides of said main central digging and conveyor mccl anism and adapted to be operated by said side digging chains, deflecting scrapers located between and extending oblique v Withrespect to the path of movement of .S'H' l obliquely with igging 1 chains and located on opposite sides mechanism, said supplementary scarifiers and adapted to deflect material loosened by the scarifiers toward said main central digging and conveyor mechanism,

means for operating said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and said endless side digging chains, and supporting means on op osite sides of and supported by said main igging beam and adapted to operatively support said side digging chains and said side scarifiers and deflecting scrapers in adjustable relation to the first mentioned main central digging and conveyor mechanism. v

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism comprising an endless series oi dig ing buckets, endless chains upon which salt? digging buckets are supported, a main digging beam mounted upon a suitable portable supporting frame, said digging beam being tiltable longitudinally in a vertical plane to permit the raising and lowering of the rear end of said beam, shaft and gear mechanism mounted on said tiltable digging beam and in operative engagement with said endless chains, tractor mechanism in suppo ting engagement with said port-' able frame, endless side digging chains located on oppositesides of the. said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, edged scarifiers located on opposite sides oi said main digging beam, deflecting scrapers operatively connected with said side di ging said main digging beam and adapted to deflect material lossened by said side scarifiers toward said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, means for operating said central digging and conveyor mechanism, and said endless side digging chains, and transverse side frame arms mounted on and extending laterally on opposite sides of said tiltable digging beam and acting to support said side digging chains and said side scarifiers and deflecting scrapers in diflorent adjusted positions. Y

13. In a grading machine, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a. portable main frame upon which said main central digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, tractor mechanism on which said portable main frame is mounted, supplementary side digging mechanism located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor side digging mechanism comprising a seri of scarificrs located on each side of the n n central digging and conveyor mechanism, and dcflccting scrapers located between said scarilicrs and I on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism and adaptcd to loosen and deflect material toward and into the path of movement of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism,

ia'zazsea and means for tilting said main central digging and conveyor mechanism laterally to different angles with respect. to the tractor mechanism.

14. In a. grading machine, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable main frame upon which said main centraldigging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, tractor mechanism on which said portable main frameis mounted, supplementary side digging mechanism located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechaging and conveyor mechanism and said supplementary digging mechanism. laterally to dilierent angles with respect to the tractor mechanism.

15. Ina grading machine, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable main frame upon which said main central digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, tractor mechanism on whiclf said portable main frame is mounted, supplementary side digging mech anism located on opposite sides of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, said supplementary side digging mechanism comprising a series of scarifiers located on each side of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, and deflocting'scrapcrs located between said scariliers and on opposite sides of and adapted to looscn and deflect material toward said main central digging and conveyor mechanism. means for tilting said main central digging nd convcyor mechanism on a transverse axis, to raise and lower the back extremity thereof, and means for adjusting the main central digging and conveyor mechanism to different laterally inclined positions with respect to the varying inclined positions of the tractor mechanism.

16. In a grading machine, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism, a portable main frame upon which said.main central digging and convcyor mechanism is mounted, tractor mechanism upon which said portable main frame is mounted, supplementary side diggin mechanism located on opposite sides of sai main central digging and conveyor mechanism, and comprising scarifiers and deflecting scrapers adapted to loosen and deflect material toward and into position to be 0p and conveyor mechanism and ill erated upon by said main central digging and coiivcyor mechanism, means for tilting said main central digging and conveyor mechanism on a transverse axis, and means for permitting the tilting of the tractor mechanism to different laterally inclined ositions with respect to the main central igging and conveyor mechanism.

17. In a grading machine, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism. a portable main frame upon which said main central digging and conveyor mechanism is mounted, tractor mechanism in supporting engagement with said portable main frame, supplementary side digging mechanism located on opposite sides of said inain central digging and conveyor mechanism. and comprising scarifiers and deflecting scrapers adapted to loosen and scrape material toward and into position to be operated upon by said main central'dig ging and conveyor mechanism, means for securing said main central digging and conveyor mechanism in ditlerent tilted posi tions with respect to the portable main frame, and means for permitting the tilting of the main central digging and conveyor mechanism and tractor mechanism to different laterally inclined positions with respect to each other.

18. In a grading machine, the combination of a main central digging and conveyor mechanism comprising a digging beam having digging and conveyor mechanism movably mounted thereon, means for pivotally connecting said beam with said portable main frame and adapted to permit the beam to be tilted on a transverse axis withg'espect to said portable frame, tractor mechanism for supporting the portable main frame, supplementary side digging mechanism located on opposite sides of said main central digging and conveyor mechanism and digging beam, and comprising endless side digging chains provided with scarifiers and deflecting scrapers adapted to loosen and scrape material toward and into position to be operated upon by the main central digging and conveyor mechanism, means for permitting thetilting of the main central and supplementary side digging mechanism with respect to the tractor mechanism, an engine on the portable main frame, means for operativcly connecting the engine with the main central digging and conveyor mechanism and supplementary side digging and scraper mechanism, and means for op- *eratively connecting the tractor mechanism with the engine.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a portable main frame, a tilting digging beam mounted on said main frame, main central diggin and conveyor mechanism mounted on said di -ging beam and comprising a series of digging buckets mounted upon a pair of main digging chains, a pair of transverse shafts journaled in said beam and provided with sprocket wheels fixed to said shafts and in supporting engagement with said chains, means for driving one of said shafts to operate, said main central digging and conveyor mechanism, transverse frame arms located on opposite sides of said tilting digging beam and each pivotally connected with and projecting laterally from said beam, means for securing said transverse frame arms in different adjusted positions in rigid relation to said tilting digging beam, a pair of laterally projecting transverse side shaft-s rotatively mounted upon each of said pivoted transverse frame arms, respectivelv, a plurality of endless side digging chains located on op posite sides of the tilting digging beam. sprockets on said transverse side shafts in supporting engagement with said Side digging hains, scarifiers mounted on said side digging chains, deflecting scrapers located between and extending obliquely with re spect to the pathof movement of said scarifiei's and'adapted to deflect material 1005- ened by the scarifiers toward said main cen tral digging and conveyor mechanism, a shaft rotatively mounted in suitable bearings on the tilting beam and having its opposite ends flexibly connected with the inner ends of a plurality of said transverse side shafts, means for driving said last mentioncd shaft on the tilting beam. to operate said transverse side shafts and side scarifier and deflecting scraper mechanism, tractor mechanism upon which said portable main frame is mounted, means for tilting the portable main fi'aiiie laterally with respect to the tractor mechanism, and means for tilting said main tilting beam upon its transverse axis with respect to said portable main frame.

Signed at lhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 19th day of July, 1922.

EARL S. KNIGHT. 

